Gasoline tank



Aug". 17, 1937. A. E. HMS ET AL GASOLINE TANK Filed March 15, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ALBERT E. HAAs g.

650m HCM! Aug. 17, 1937. A. E. HAAs ET Al.

GASOLINE TANK Filed March 15,y 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Aug. 17, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE GASOLINE TANK Albert E. Haas and George H. Clay, Kansas City, Mo., assig'nors to American Safety Tank Co., Kansas City, Mo., a corporation of Missouri Application March 15, 1935, Serial No. 11,364

7 Claims.

Our invention relates to tanks for rcombustible iiuids and more particularly to improved liquid fuel tanks for vehicles, with particular reference to motor'vehicles such as automobiles, trucks and the like, although readily adaptable to other vehicles. y While the tank which forms the subject matter of this inventionhas many applications and is susceptible of beingused with any device that necessitates the use of a liquid fuel tank and has a fuel consuming apparatus such as a burner, internaly combustion engine, or the like, it is obvious that its most general application is to an automobile and that the general type of fuel will be gasoline.

It is Well known that by far the greatest dam,

age incident to the overturning of an automobile or an automobile wreck, arises from re which is caused by gasoline leaking from the inlet of the gasoline tank and coming into contact with the hot exhaust pipe or other heated portions of the engine. The fire thus caused spreads quickly, is hard to extinguish, and generally results in the vehicle becoming a total loss. It is well known also that in such an event, the occupants of the vehicle are frequently pinned beneath the car and burned to death, or at least severely burned, before-they can be rescued.

With the foregoing in mind', we have endeavored to devise a tank from which gasoline, or other liquid fuel, will not leak when the vehicle overturns. As the great majority of flres connected with automobile wrecks are caused primarily by such leakage, we believe that by producing a leak proof tank, that a great many lives will be saved and that a great deal` less property damage will result from automobil wrecks,

Among the objects of our invention is to provide a fuel tank which will not leak when the normal position of the tank is changed by reason of a wreck. or other'event.

A further object is to provide a tank which will minimize the fire hazard in the event the vehicle is wrecked or overturned.

A further object is to provide a novel and improved cap for the tank.

A further object is to provide a novel tank and cap. I

A further object is to provide a tank which cannot be completely lled with f uel, that is which can only be filled to a predetermined level, and which will have at all times at leastva certain amount of air therein.

Other objects and advantages reside in the particular forms of our invention, combination andarrangement of the various parts, in the particular details of structure, and in the particular modes of operation, all of which will be. readily apparent to those skilled in the art upon 5 reference to the attached drawings, detailed description and claims which form parts of this disclosure.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of one form of the invention,

Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof,

Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken on the line 3--3 of Fig. 2,

Fig. 4 is a vertical section through the upper end of the lling tube and cap,

Flg`. 5 is a horizontal section taken on the line 5--5 of Fig. 4,

Fig. 6 is a side elevation of a modification of the device; and

Fig. 'l is a vertical section taken on the line 1--1 of Fig. 6.

The present specification discloses two forms of the invention, the first of which is disclosed by Figures l, 2, and 3 of the drawings, and the 25 second form of which is disclosed by Figures 6 andv 7. In connection with both forms .of the invention a novel type of filler cap is used which is disclosed by Figures 4 and 5.

Referring to the form of invention disclosed 30 by Figures 1, 2, and 3, and with like reference characters designating identical parts, the reference character I0 indicates an automobile tank which is adapted to be placed upon one side of an automobile, motor-bus, truck, or thelike in substantially horizontal position. No claim is made to any particular form of tank per'yse as the invention resides in certain appurtenances thereof to be described hereafter and which are equally applicable to any liquid fuel tank.

A fuel conduit I3 leads from the tank I0 to any suitable apparatus for consuming the fuel, such as an automobile engine (not shown). 'I'he fuel'line I3 passes through the end wall IIIb I near the fuel inlet of the tank I0 adjacent the 45 top thereof and extends across the interior of the tank to a point adjacentthe opposite end wall Illal of the same. The line I3 is supported from the tank top by lany suitable means I4 and its inner end portion is downwardly bent as at 50 I3a to yform a substantially perpendicular section I5 which opens Yinto the tank adjacent the bottom of the same? The tank I0 is filled by means ofalling pipe 20 which is located within the tank and is sub- 5.5

apparent from Figures 1 and 2, extends substantially the major portion of the length of the tank I and has an open inner end spaced from the adjacent end I0 of the tank. A second or vent pipe 25 is connected with the filling pipe and opens into the shorter leg 2| at a point close to the side wall of the tank through which the leg 2| is extended and said vent pipe 25 extends substantially to the opposite end of the tank, being attached thereto by any suitable supporting means 26, where it opens into the same as at 21. The vent pipe 25 is disposed a sufficient distance below the top of the tank to form a non-fillable void sufficient to cause the inner ends of both the filling pipe and the vent pipe to extend above the liquid level within the tank when the latter is tipped in case of overturn of the vehicle.

As we have stated above, this form of the tank is adapted to be placed eitheracross the frame of a vehicle with its axis substantially at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the. vehicle, or to be placed on the side of a vehicle 'in substantially a horizontal position with the long axis of the tank extending substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle.

This form of tank is adapted to be placed either across the frame of a vehicle with its axis substantially at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle; or to be placed on the side of a vehicle in substantially a horizontal position with the longitudinal axis of the tank substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle.

In the case of the cross mount installation (where the longitudinal axis of the tank is at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle) if the vehicle be over-turned or tilted to its right side it is apparent that the filling outlet will be uppermost and that no leakage will occur. On the other hand if the vehicle be tilted or overturned to its left side it is seen that the open end of the filler pipe and the open end of the vent pipe within the tank will be above the surface of the liquid or the fuel, and that no fuel will run down the same to the outside outlet. Any fuel that might be trapped in either the filling pipe or the vent pipelis prevented from escaping by means of the novel cap used on the tank.

In thecase of the side mount tank or those tanks mounted on the side of a vehicle with their longitudinal axis parallel tothe longitudinal axis of the vehicle the action'of the tank in case of upset or end over is essentially the same principle as described above. In any position where leakage would occur from the tank the ends of the filling neck, vent pipe or fuel line are protected i by the non-filla'ble void against leakage of fuel.

vis displaced by the incoming fuel, and this air can escape-only through the vent pipe 25. Therefore, as soon as the mouth 21 of the pipe 25 is cov- 4ered no more -fuel can be placed in the tank not- .withstanding the fact that the tank is not completely filled. This procedure establishes the nonneck and vent pipe out of the fuel in case of voverturn when the outside opening of these pipes is lower than the level of the fuel in the tank. 5

The modification of the invention disclosed by Figs. 6 and 7 discloses a tank' |00 which is adapted to be placed across the frame of the vehicle at right angles to the long'axis thereof. A fuel line I2 leads from the engineinot shown) and enters 10 the top of the tank |00 adjacent the end' |0I thereof and extends substantially the length of the tank as at ||3 where it turns downwardly to a point adjacent the bottom of the opposite end and opens into the same as at I5. An apertured partition Ill may be placed in the tank |00.and serves to support the portion ||5 of the pipe ||2. The tank is filled by means of a filling pipe which extends angularly through an upper side wall of the tank and inwardly thereof a short 20 distance. As in the modification first described, the filling pipe |20 is substantially L-shaped, having a shorter leg or lateral portion |2| and a longer leg |22. The longer leg |22 extends through the partition IMl and substantially the major length of the tank |00 at the upper portion thereof and has its inner end |24 spaced from` the end |02. The smaller or vent pipe |25, corresponding to the pipe 25 in the other form of the invention, extends parallel to the leg |22 and 30 opens into the tank, as at |21, at a point in substantially the same vertical plane as the 4end |24 of the leg |22. Both the pipe |25 and the leg |22 are supported by the partition I4, or the partition may be eliminated and any other suitable supporting means substituted.

Theoperation of this form of the invention is substantially the same as the form previously described, and'it will be noted that whether the car is overturned on its right or left side it will be impossible for any gasoline in the tank proper to flow into either the pipes |20 or |25 or into the supply line ||3.

In Figs. 4 and 5 is shown a novel type of cap for the tank illustrated. The outer ends of the 4 5 filling pipe 20 are inwardly turned to form portions 20 which are formed to provide cut away portions 20h. The cap 30 is provided with a flange 3| which ts over the end of the filler pipe 20' (or |20). The usual vent hole 32 is provided 50 centrally of the top of the cap 30 and any suitable washer, or the like 33 may be carried by the cap t prevent leakage of gasoline at the joint, between the same and the end of the pipe 20. Af member 31|n having laterally extending springI 55 fingers 34 whichjare adapted to be seated beneath the inwardly turned portions 20u of the pipe 20 is carried by the top of the cap. A vent 35 is provided in the member 34a between the spring fingers to coincide with the vent `32 in 60 the cap. The vents 32 and 35 open into a tube 36 which is solderedor otherwise secured to the member 34a and depends downwardly therefrom and axially of the same and the top of the cap. The lower end of the tube 36 is' provided withA 65 .a lateral opening 31 and the extreme end is sold-l ered or otherwise secured to a cup-shaped member 38 substantially axially thereof.

It is in the tube 36, aperture 31 and cup 38 that the novelty ofthe cap 30 is found. It is well 70 known that there is a necessity'foravent hole in` most automobile tanks to permit the gasoline to be drawn off. We have found that-in the event that a tank such as we have described above is overturned or tilted, there is a likelihood that a portion of gasoline which'may be in either the leg 22 of the filling pipe 20 or'vent 25 (or |22 -or'the vent |25), will leak out through the vent hole and create a dangerous condition. For that reason we have designed a cap which, while proi viding the necessary vent to the tank, will not permit the leakage of gasoline vthrough the vent in the event that the tank is overturned. The operation is simplicity itself and is based on the vacuum principle which is demonstrated best by holding fluid in a tube simply by closing the upper end thereof, that is, when the tank is turned upside down and gasoline lls the tube 36, the attempted fiow of the gasoline out of the tube creates a Vacuum above the fuel level in the tank which exerts a sufficient pull to prevent the escape of gasoline. We have discovered that a tube such as 36 is necessary to enable the vacuum to exert enough pull to prevent the gasoline from escaping, it being well known that the vacuum in the usual tank does not prevent the escape of gasoline from the usual vent hole.

While we have shown and described two ernbodiments of our invention, it is to be understood that it is susceptible of other expressions and embodiments without departing from the spirit of the invention and that the forms of invention shown and described are intended tobe illustrative rather than limitive. That is, it is obvious that the filling pipes could be other than L-shaped and that the vent pipe could be otherwise positioned in the tank as long as the results obtained by applicants are accomplished.

We claim:

1. A liquid'fuel tank for motor vehicles including a closed tank adapted to be normally supported on a vehicle in substantially ,horizontal position, a/filling pipe located within the tank and having a leg portion extending the major' portion thereof and provided at one end with a" lateral portion extending to the exterior of the tank, the other end of the -leg portion being open and located adjacent to and spaced from one end of the tank, and a vent pipe arranged in the tank and connected at one end with the filling pipe and extending therefrom to a point adjacent said end of the tank and located a suiiiclent distance below the top of the tank to form a nonllable void suii'icient to cause the inner ends of both the filling pipeand vthe vent pipe to extend above the liquid level within the tank when the tank is inverted.

2. A liquid fuel tank for motor vehicles including a closed tank adapted to be normally supported on a vehicle in substantially horizontal position, a filling pipe located within Athe tank and provided adjacent one end of the tank with a lateral portion extending to the exterior of the tank, said filling pipe having a leg portion extending along the upper portion of the tank to a point adjacent the other end of the same and having an open inner end spaced from the adjacent end of the tank, and a vent pipe arranged within the tank and connected with the filling pipe and extending to a,l point adjacent the end of the tank at which theopen end of the filling pipe is located and disposed a suflicient distance below the top of the tank to form a non-fillable void suiiicient to cause the inner ends of both the filling pipe and the vent pipe to extend above the liquid llevel within the tank when the latter is inverted.

3. A liquid fuel tank for motor vehicles including a closed tank adapted tov be normally supported on a vehicle in substantially horizon- .tal position,a filling -pipe located `within the tank and having a leg portion extending the major portion of the length of the tank at the upper portion thereof and provided at one end with a lateral portion extending tothe exterior of the tank, the other end of the leg portion being open and located adjacent to and spaced from one end of the tank, a vent pipe arranged within the tank and connected at one end with the lateral portion of the filling pipe and extending therefrom to a point adjacent said end of the tankand located' a sufficient distance below the top of the tank to form a non-iillable void sufiicient to cause the inner ends of both the filling pipe and the vent pipe to extend above the liquid level within the tank when the tank is inverted.

4. A liquid fuel tank for motor vehicles including a closed tank adapted to be normally supported on a vehicle4 in substantially horizontal position, a filling pipe located within the tank and provided adjacent one end of the tank with a lateral portion extending to the exterior of the tank, said filling pipe having a leg portion extending along the upper portion of the tank to la point adjacent the'other end of the same and both the filling pipe and the vent pipe to extend above the liquid level in the tank when the tank yis inverted. l i .5; A liquid fuel tank for motor vehicles including a closed vtank adapted to be normally supported on a vehicle in substantially horizontal ing in substantial parallelism with the top of the tank to the other end thereof and having an open inner end spaced from the adjacent end of the tank, and a vent pipe arranged within the tank and connected with the'lateral portion of the filling pipe and extending to a point adjacent the opposite end of the tank and located a suflicient distance below the top of vthe-tank to form a nonflllable void suicient to c-ause the inner ends of both the lling pipe and the vent pipe to extend above theliquid level within the tank when the tank is inverted.

6.,A liquid fuel tank for motor vehicles including a closed tank adapted to be normally supported on a vehicle' in substantially horizontal position,` a filling pipe located within the tank and provided adjacent one end of the tank with a lateral portion extending to the exterior of the tank, said filling pipe having a leg portion extending along the upper portion of the tank to a point adjacent the other end of the same and having an open inner end spaced lfrom the adjacent end of the tank, a vent `pipe arranged within the tank and connected with` the filling pipe and extending to a point adjacent the end of the tank at which the open end of the filling pipe is located and disposed a suicient distance below the top of the tank to form a non-fillable `void suflicient to cause the inner ends of both the filling pipe and the vent pipe to extend above the liquid level within the tank when the latter in inverted, -and a conduit for drawing fuel from the tank extending into the tank adjacent said top portion near the fuel inlet and having an inlet located vat the opposite end of the tank near the bottom thereof.

7. A liquid vfuel tank for motor vehicles including a closed tank adapted to be normally supported on a vehicle in substantially horizontal position, a lling pipe located Within the tank and having a leg portion extending the major portion of the length of the tank at the upper portion thereof and provided at `one end with a lateral portion extending to the exterior of the tank, the other end of the leg portion being open and located adjacent to and spaced from one end of the tank, a vent pipe arranged in the tank and connected at one end with the filling pipe and extending therefrom to a point adjacent said end of the tank and located a suicient distance below the top of the tank to form a nonilllable void sumcient to cause vthe inner ends of both the lling pipe and the vent pipe vto extend above the liquid level within the tank when the tank is inverted. and means in the iilling pipe for preventingV outiiow of liquid in case of complete overturn of the vehicle. v ALBERT E. HAAS. GEO. H. CLAY. 

